Chew toys for children

ABSTRACT

A toy with a ring-shaped body having multiple sections each forming a portion of the ring-shaped body and each having a tubular base portion. At least a first tab projects radially outward from the tubular base portion of a first section of the multiple sections. Surface features protrude from at least one of the first tab and the tubular base portion of at least one of the multiple sections. At least a first pressure sensor is embedded in the first tab and operates to activate a first electrical device in response to pressure applied to the first tab exceeding a pressure threshold. Activation of the first electrical device produces light, or sound, or vibrates.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/947,106, filed Dec. 12, 2019, the contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to children's toys. Theinvention particularly relates to toys configured to promote thepersonal development of children with specific developmental needs, suchas children including newborns with Down syndrome.

Many toys designed for young children are intended to promote a child'sdevelopment in areas such as speech, fine motor skills, physicalmovement, thinking skills, etc. However, there is a lack of toysintended for children with specific developmental needs, such aschildren with Down syndrome.

Down syndrome is a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome(chromosome 21). This extra chromosome changes how a baby's body andbrain develop, which can cause lifelong mental and physical challengesfor the individual. Babies with Down syndrome may face additionaldevelopmental challenges and typically take longer to achieve certaindevelopmental milestones such as turning over, sitting, standing, andwalking. These children may attend therapeutic services to improve theirphysical and intellectual abilities during development, includingspeech, occupational, and physical therapy. However, it is believed thatsuch children could further benefit if toys were available that werespecifically configured to promote the children's development.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides toys suitable for promoting developmentof children, including but not limited to children including newbornswith Down syndrome.

According to one aspect of the invention, a toy includes a ring-shapedbody having multiple sections each forming a portion of the ring-shapedbody and each having a tubular base portion. At least a first tabprojects radially outward from the tubular base portion of a firstsection of the multiple sections. Surface features protrude from atleast one of the first tab and the tubular base portion of at least oneof the multiple sections. At least a first pressure sensor is embeddedin the first tab and operates to activate a first electrical device inresponse to pressure applied to the first tab exceeding a pressurethreshold. Activation of the first electrical device produces light, orsound, or vibrates.

Technical effects of the toy described above preferably include theability to promote a child's development by having the child chew on andplay with the toy.

Other aspects and advantages of this invention will be appreciated fromthe following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 through 3 show various views of a toy in accordance with certainnonlimiting aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 3 show a nonlimiting embodiment of a toy 10 configuredto promote the development of young children, including but not limitedto children including newborns with Down syndrome. In a preferredembodiment, a child may chew on the toy 10 and thereby promotestrengthening of the child's jaw and hand (e.g., grip) muscles andimproving tongue control. It is believed that improvements in jaw muscletone and tongue control may benefit a child in speech development,nursing, and teething, especially a child with Down syndrome.

The toy 10 includes a ring-shaped body 11 formed by multiple sections(sectors). In the nonlimiting embodiment shown, the body 11 of the toy10 is generally toroid-shaped and the multiple sections are generallytoroid sectors. The nonlimiting embodiment of the body 11 represented inthe drawings has generally constant major and minor radii from a centralaxis 13 and comprises four arcuate sections 12, 14, 16, and 18, eachforming a 90-degree quadrant of the toroid shape of the body 11 and eachhaving a generally arcuate-shaped tubular base portion having a circularcross-section, though other shapes and fewer and more sections areforeseeable. Each section 12, 14, 16, and 18 is represented as beingdifferent from the others. In the embodiment shown, the sections 12, 14,16, and 18 include different features specifically intended to maintaina child's attention and/or promote its physical and/or mentaldevelopment.

In the nonlimiting embodiment shown in the drawings, two generally flator planar, semicircular tabs 20 and 24 project from the tubular baseportions of an immediately adjacent pair of the sections 12 and 14(hereinafter, the first and second sections 12 and 14) in generallyradially outward directions of the body 11 of the toy 10. In contrast,the remaining sections 16 and 18 (hereinafter, the third and fourthsections 16 and 18) lack any radially-projecting tabs. The tabs 20 and24 are represented as each having a partial disk-shape with a thickness(parallel to the axis 13) between two generally planar surfaces that isless than the maximum width of the tab 20 and 24 in the plane of the toy10 (perpendicular to its axis 13). Additionally, each tab 20 and 24 isrepresented as generally symmetrical about a radial 21 or 25 of the body11. These tabs 20 and 24 not only provide a surface for a child to chewon, but also may function to activate certain features of the toy 10,including but not limited to one or more electrical devices. Forexample, the tab 20 projecting from the first section 12 may include apressure sensor 23 (FIG. 1) that activates one or more battery-poweredlight sources 27 embedded within the first section 12 if the pressuresensed by the sensor 23 exceeds a predetermined pressure threshold, suchas when a child chews on or squeezes the tab 20. In this instance, thefirst section 12 is at least semi-transparent to allow light emittedfrom the light sources 27 to be seen by the child. Upon activation, thelight sources 27 may each individually emit light of different colorsand/or changing colors, may be continuous or flashing, and may remainlighted for a predetermined amount of time or while adequate pressure ismaintained on the tab 20.

Similarly, the tab 24 may include a pressure sensor 26 (FIG. 1) thatactivates a battery-powered sound-emitting device 30 (referred tohereinafter as a speaker) embedded within the second section 14 inresponse to the pressure sensed by the sensor 26 exceeding a pressurethreshold, such as when a child chews on or squeezes the tab 24. Thespeaker 30 may produce various sounds, music, or audio recordings for apredetermined amount of time or while adequate pressure is maintained onthe tab 20.

In addition or as an alternative to the above, the tabs 20 and 24 may beconfigured to activate features within sections 12, 14, 16, and/or 18 ofthe body 11 other than those from which they directly project. Forexample, activation of the pressure sensor 23 in the tab 20 may alsoactivate additional light sources 32 in the third section 16 of the body11, and activation of the pressure sensor 26 in the tab 24 may alsoactivate a second speaker 35 in the fourth section 18 of the body 11.Further, activation of the pressure sensor 23 and/or 26 in either tab 20or 24 could activate some or all of the features associated with one ormore other sections 12, 14, 16, and 18 of the toy 10. The toy 10 mayalso include features other than devices that produce light and sound.For example, a battery-powered vibrating device could be installed inplace of any one or more of the light sources 27 and 32 and speakers 30and 35 so that the toy 10 vibrates, which may assist in the teethingprocess.

Each individual section 12, 14, 16, and 18 may be formed of the samematerial or different materials, may have the same or different rigidityor hardness, may be at least semi-transparent or opaque, and may bevarious colors. In addition, each of the individual sections 12, 14, 16,and 18 may have entirely smooth surfaces, uneven surfaces, and/orinclude surface features such as protrusions or recesses. In theembodiment represented in the drawings, the tubular base portions of thesecond and fourth sections 14 and 18 are opaque, the tubular baseportions of the first and third sections 12 and 16 are semi-transparent,and the surfaces of the tubular base portions of the first, second andfourth sections 12, 14, and 18 are smooth and formed of a relativelyrigid material so that each has and is able to maintain a constantcross-sectional circular shape, whereas the tubular base portion of thethird section 16 may be formed by a material that is more pliable andelastic than the first, second and fourth sections 12 and 14, with theresult that the tubular base portion of the third section 16 tends tohave a variable and likely a wavy or rippled surface 34. The sections12, 14, 16, and 18 can be separately manufactured and assembled tocreate the toroidal shape of the body 11, so that each adjacent pair ofsections 12, 14, 16, and 18 is separated by a wall 37 and each section12, 14, 16, and 18 may define an enclosed and optionally sealed internalcavity. For example, the internal cavity within the tubular base portionof the third section 16 may be sealed and contain a silicone gel or thelike, so that the third section 16 and particularly its tubular baseportion is pliable and deformable. If placed in the freezer, the thirdsection 16 can be used to assist with teething pain and/or provide adifference in textures and surfaces for enhanced baby stimulation.

The tab 20 of the first section 12 is shown as including an array ofcircular protrusions or nubs 22 and 36 protruding from at least one ofits oppositely-disposed planar surfaces, the tab 24 of the secondsection 14 is shown as including an array of semicircular ribs 28protruding from at least one of its oppositely-disposed planar surfaces,and the fourth section 18 is shown as including an array of circularprotrusions or nubs 36 protruding from the surface of its tubular baseportion. Such surface features may be configured to maintain a child'sattention, promote chewing, alleviate discomfort associated withteething, and/or provide other benefits.

Notably, the nonlimiting embodiment represented in the drawings ismerely exemplary, and other configurations are foreseeable. Asnonlimiting examples, the toy 10 could have shapes and sizes other thanthose shown (e.g., a noncircular ring in the shape of a rectangle,pentagon, etc. or a solid (i.e., not ring-shaped) body), could includemore or fewer sections, and could include more or fewer tabs of variousshapes.

Therefore, while the invention has been described in terms of aparticular embodiment, it should be apparent that alternatives could beadopted by one skilled in the art. For example, the toy 10 and itscomponents could differ in appearance and construction from theembodiments described herein and shown in the drawings, functions ofcertain components of the toy 10 could be performed by components ofdifferent construction but capable of a similar (though not necessarilyequivalent) function, and various materials could be used in thefabrication of the toy 10 and/or its components. Accordingly, it shouldbe understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to anyembodiment described herein or illustrated in the drawings. It shouldalso be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed aboveare for the purpose of describing the nonlimiting embodiment shown inthe drawings, and do not necessarily serve as limitations to the scopeof the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limitedonly by the following claims.

1. A toy comprising: a ring-shaped body comprising multiple sectionseach forming a portion of the ring-shaped body and each having a tubularbase portion; at least a first tab projecting radially outward from thetubular base portion of a first section of the multiple sections;surface features protruding from at least one of the first tab and thetubular base portion of at least one of the multiple sections; and atleast a first pressure sensor embedded in the first tab, the firstpressure sensor operating to activate a first electrical device inresponse to pressure applied to the first tab exceeding a pressurethreshold, wherein activation of the first electrical device produceslight, or sound, or vibrates.
 2. The toy of claim 1, wherein themultiple sections are multiple arcuate sectors of the ring-shaped body.3. The toy of claim 1, wherein the ring-shaped body is toroid-shaped andthe multiple sections are toroid sectors of the ring-shaped body.
 4. Thetoy of claim 1, wherein the ring-shaped body has constant major andminor radii from a central axis of the ring-shaped body.
 5. The toy ofclaim 1, wherein the multiple sections of the ring-shaped body are fourarcuate sections each forming a 90-degree quadrant of the ring-shapedbody.
 6. The toy of claim 5, wherein the four arcuate sections eachcomprise an arcuate-shaped tubular base portion having a circularcross-section.
 7. The toy of claim 1, wherein the first electricaldevice is within the tubular base portion of the first section fromwhich the first tab projects.
 8. The toy of claim 1, wherein the firstelectrical device is within the tubular base portion of a second sectionof the multiple sections.
 9. The toy of claim 1, further comprising: atleast a second tab projecting radially outward from the tubular baseportion of a second section of the multiple sections; and at least asecond pressure sensor embedded in the second tab, the second pressuresensor operating to activate a second electrical device in response topressure applied to the second tab exceeding a second pressurethreshold, wherein activation of the second electrical device produceslight, or sound, or vibrates.
 10. The toy of claim 9, wherein thetubular base portions of the first and second sections are immediatelyadjacent to each other on the ring-shaped body.
 11. The toy of claim 10,wherein the tubular base portions of third and fourth sections of themultiple sections are immediately adjacent to each other on thering-shaped body and do not comprise tabs that project radially outwardfrom the tubular base portions thereof.
 12. The toy of claim 1, whereinthe surface features protrude from the first tab and from the tubularbase portion of at least one of the multiple sections.
 13. The toy ofclaim 1, wherein the tubular base portion of at least one of themultiple sections does not have surface features protruding therefrom.14. The toy of claim 1, wherein the multiple sections of the ring-shapedbody are assembled to create the ring-shaped body and each adjacent pairof the multiple sections is separated by a wall and each of the multiplesections defines an enclosed internal cavity.
 15. The toy of claim 14,wherein the enclosed internal cavity of at least one of the multiplesections of the ring-shaped body is a sealed cavity and contains a geland the tubular base portion of the at least one of the multiplesections is pliable and deformable.
 16. The toy of claim 15, wherein thetubular base portion of at least another of the multiple sections of thering-shaped body is more rigid than the tubular base portion of the atleast one of the multiple sections.
 17. The toy of claim 1, wherein thetubular base portion of at least one of the multiple sections of thering-shaped body is opaque and the tubular base portion of at leastanother of the multiple sections of the ring-shaped body issemi-transparent.
 18. A toy comprising: a toroid-shaped body comprisingmultiple arcuate sections each forming a portion of the toroid-shapedbody and each having a tubular base portion; a first tab projectingradially outward from the tubular base portion of a first arcuatesection of the multiple arcuate sections; a second tab projectingradially outward from the tubular base portion of a second arcuatesection of the multiple arcuate sections that is immediately adjacent tothe first arcuate section of the toroid-shaped body; the tubular baseportions of third and fourth arcuate sections of the multiple arcuatesections are immediately adjacent to each other on the toroid-shapedbody and do not comprise tabs that project radially outward from thetubular base portions thereof. surface features protruding from at leastone of the first tab, the second tab, and the tubular base portion of atleast one of the multiple arcuate sections; at least a first pressuresensor embedded in the first tab, the first pressure sensor operating toactivate a first electrical device in response to pressure applied tothe first tab exceeding a pressure threshold, wherein activation of thefirst electrical device produces light, or sound, or vibrates; and thetubular base portion of at least one of the multiple arcuate sections ofthe toroid-shaped body is opaque and the tubular base portion of atleast another of the multiple arcuate sections of the toroid-shaped bodyis semi-transparent.
 19. The toy of claim 18, wherein the toroid-shapedbody has constant major and minor radii from a central axis of thetoroid-shaped body, and the multiple arcuate sections of thetoroid-shaped body are four arcuate sections each forming a 90-degreequadrant of the toroid-shaped body.
 20. The toy of claim 18, wherein themultiple arcuate sections of the toroid-shaped body are assembled tocreate the toroid-shaped body, each adjacent pair of the multiplearcuate sections is separated by a wall, each of the multiple arcuatesections defines an enclosed internal cavity, the enclosed internalcavity of at least one of the multiple arcuate sections is a sealedcavity and contains a gel, and the tubular base portion of the at leastone of the multiple arcuate sections is pliable and deformable.